Apparatus, System and Method for Remediation of Contamination

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of pending application Ser. No.11/779,705 filed Jul. 18, 2007, which in turn is a divisional ofapplication Ser. No. 10/918,257 filed Aug. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,264,713 issued Sep. 4, 2007, which in turn claims benefit ofapplication 60/504,608 filed Sep. 22, 2003 and application 60/499,619filed Sep. 3, 2003, both expired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to cleaning toxic waste, and moreparticularly, to an apparatus, system and method for remediation ofcontaminated materials from a body of water.

2. Related Art

It has been found that some naturally occurring bodies of water such aslakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams have become contaminated withmaterial, such as, for example, with chemicals such as polychlorinatedbiphenyls (“PCBs”) or chlorinated dioxins.

There is a need for an apparatus, system and method for removal of thesecontaminated materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus,comprising: a vessel including an opening, wherein when the opening isfacing a bottom of a body of water and the vessel is in direct physicalcontact with the bottom of the body of water, the vessel is configuredto contain and suspend materials inside the vessel; and a closed looppiping system coupled to the vessel and configured to transport thesuspended materials from inside the vessel to a processing systemoperatively coupled outside the vessel and return the suspendedmaterials to the inside of the vessel.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method forprocessing materials, the method comprising: providing a vesselincluding an opening; positioning the vessel such that the opening facesthe contaminated materials and is in direct physical contact with thecontaminated materials; containing and suspending the contaminatedmaterials inside the vessel; providing a closed loop piping systemcoupled to the vessel; transporting the contained and suspendedcontaminated materials via the closed loop from inside the vessel to anexterior of the vessel; processing the contained and suspendedmaterials; and returning the suspended and contained materials to theinside of the vessel via the closed loop.

A third aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus,comprising: a vessel including an opening, wherein when the opening isfacing a bottom of a body of water and the vessel is in direct physicalcontact with the bottom of the body of water, wherein the vessel hasbeen configured to contain and suspend materials inside the vessel; anda first pipe coupled to the vessel and configured to transport thecontained and suspended materials from an interior of the vessel to anexterior of the vessel, wherein the first pipe includes an attachmentselected from the group consisting of a filter and a drill head orauger.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus,comprising: a vessel including an opening, wherein when the opening ofthe vessel is facing a bottom of a body of water and the vessel is indirect physical contact with the bottom of the body of water, andwherein the vessel has been configured to contain and suspend materialsinside the vessel; a closed loop piping system coupled to the vessel andconfigured to transport the contained and suspended materials frominside the vessel to a processing system that has been operably coupledto an exterior of the vessel and return the contained and suspendedmaterials to the inside of the vessel; and a lifting device coupled tothe vessel and adapted for positioning the vessel.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a method fortransporting materials from a bottom of a body of water for processing,the method comprising: providing a vessel including an opening;positioning the vessel such that the opening is facing the bottom of thebody of water and is in direct physical contact with the bottom of thebody of water; containing and suspending the materials inside thevessel; providing an open loop piping system coupled to the vessel;filtering the materials inside the vessel; and transporting thecontained and suspended materials from an interior of the vessel to anexterior of the vessel via the open loop piping system.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a growth packet,comprising: a container, wherein the container has been adapted forexchanging air and water between an interior and an exterior of thecontainer, and wherein the container has been adapted to sink to abottom of a body of water; and wherein the container containsself-contained growth materials for accelerating plant growth.

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a method forimproving a growing environment at a bottom of a body of water, themethod comprising: providing a container, wherein the container has beenadapted for exchanging air and water between an interior and an exteriorof the container; providing self-contained growth materials foraccelerating plant growth in the container, and sinking the container tothe bottom of the body of water.

An eighth aspect of the present invention provides a growth packet,comprising: a container, wherein the container has been adapted forexchanging air and water between an interior and an exterior of thecontainer, and wherein the container has been adapted for floating on asurface of a body of water; and self-contained growth materials in thecontainer for accelerating plant growth.

A ninth aspect of the present invention provides a method for improvinga growing environment in a body of water, the method comprising:providing a container, wherein the container has been adapted forexchanging air and water between an interior and an exterior of thecontainer; providing self-contained growth materials for acceleratingplant growth in the container, and floating the container.

A tenth aspect of the present invention provides a growth packet,comprising: a container, wherein the container has been adapted forexchanging air and water between an interior and an exterior of thecontainer, wherein at least one mass is operatively coupled to thecontainer, and wherein the container contains self-contained growthmaterials for accelerating plant growth.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a method forimproving a growing environment at a bottom of a body of water, themethod comprising: providing a container, wherein the container has beenadapted for exchanging air and water between an interior and an exteriorof the container; providing materials for self-contained plant growth inthe container; providing at least one mass coupled to the container; andsinking the container to the bottom of the body of water with the atleast one mass.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides a growth packet,comprising: a container, wherein the container has been adapted forexchanging air and water between an interior and an exterior of thecontainer, and wherein the container contains materials forself-contained plant growth; and at least one float coupled to thecontainer.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides a method forimproving a growing environment in a body of water, the methodcomprising: providing a container having a float operatively coupled tothe container, wherein the container has been adapted for exchanging airand water between an interior and an exterior of the container; andproviding materials for self-contained plant growth confined in thecontainer.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides a contaminatedmaterial treating system, comprising: a vessel including an opening,wherein when the opening is facing a layer of contaminated material on abottom of a body of water and the opening is in direct physical contactwith a top layer of the contaminated material, wherein the vessel hasbeen configured to contain and suspend the contaminated material in aninterior of the vessel; and wherein the vessel has been configured tosuspend the contaminated material until a pre-specified thickness of thetop layer of the contaminated material has been suspended in theinterior of the vessel.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides a method forprocessing contaminated material at a bottom of a body of water, themethod comprising: providing a vessel including an opening; placing thevessel such that the opening is facing a layer of contaminated materialon the bottom of the body of water and is in direct physical contactwith a top layer of the contaminated material; suspending thecontaminated material until a pre-specified thickness of the top layerof the contaminated material has been suspended in the interior of thevessel.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention provides a planting systemfor planting growth packets into a sediment layer at a bottom of a bodyof water, the planting system comprising: a planting sled adapted forsurfing on the sediment layer; a front plow coupled to the planting sledand adapted for forming a trench in the sediment layer in response tothe planting sled surfing on the sediment layer; and a back plow coupledto the planting sled and adapted for moving sediment materials into thetrench in response to the planting sled surfing on the sediment layer.

A seventeenth aspect of the present invention provides a method forplanting growth packets into a sediment layer at a bottom of a body ofwater, the method comprising: providing a planting sled including afront plow and a back plow; forming, with the front plow, a trench inthe sediment layer in response to the planting sled surfing on thesediment layer; and moving, with the back plow, sediment materials intothe trench in response to the planting sled surfing on the sedimentlayer.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention provides a structure forforming an enclosed space in a body of water, the structure comprising:a polygon shaped vessel including a first, second, third, and fourthside plates, a top plate, and an opening, wherein the polygon shapedvessel has been adapted for being lowered into the body of water withthe opening facing a bottom of the body of water; and a first, second,third, and fourth curtain plates abutting and having been coupled to thefirst, second, third, and the fourth side plates, respectively, whereinthe first, second, third, and the fourth curtain plates have beenadapted for being lowered to the bottom of the body of water.

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention provides a method forforming an enclosed space on a bottom of a body of water, the methodcomprising: providing a polygon shaped vessel including first, second,third, and fourth side plates, a top plate, and an opening; providingfirst, second, third, and fourth curtain plates abutting and having beencoupled to the first, second, third, and the fourth side plates,respectively; positioning the polygon shaped vessel in the body of waterwith the opening facing the bottom of the body of water; and loweringthe first, second, third, and the fourth curtain plates to the bottom ofthe body of water.

A twentieth aspect of the present invention provides a Blanket RollPlanting System, comprising: a blanket roll made of a biodegradablematerial, having at least one growth packet therein, wherein the growthpacket contains seeds or cuttings of plants or seedlings; and a stakeand growth packet delivery system, wherein the stake and growth packetdelivery system includes a stake supply, a stake delivery pipe, whereinthe stakes move into a trajectory of a ram piston, a blanket roll guidesystem, wherein the blanket roll guide system guides the laying of theblanket roll onto soil, such that the blanket roll passes through thetrajectory of the ram piston, such that the stakes are driven into thesoil by the ram piston.

A twenty-first aspect of the present invention provides a method forplanting, comprising: providing a blanket roll, wherein the blanket rollincludes at least one growth packet: and providing a stake and growthpacket delivery system, wherein the stake and growth packet deliverysystem includes a stake supply, a stake delivery pipe, wherein thestakes move into a trajectory of a ram piston, a blanket roll guidesystem, wherein the blanket roll guide system drives the laying of theblanket roll onto soil, such that the blanket roll passes through thetrajectory of the ram piston, such that the stakes are driven into thesoil by the ram piston.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for removing and treating materials in abody of water, the apparatus comprising a vessel, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an apparatus for removing and treatingmaterials in a body of water, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a flow chart of a method for operating the apparatusof FIGS. 2A and 2B, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a flow chart of a method for operating the apparatusof FIGS. 2A and 2B, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a growth packet for improving the environment,according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a growth packet for improving the environment,according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6A illustrates a planting system that can be used for planting thegrowth packets of FIGS. 4 and 5, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6B illustrates FIG. 6A, including a bottom view of a planting sledof FIG. 6A, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method for operating the plantingsystems, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 a illustrates a top view of the vessel of FIG. 1, coupled to fourcurtain plates, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 b illustrates a perspective view of the vessel and the curtainplates of FIG. 8 a, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 c illustrates a side view of the vessel and the curtain plates ofFIG. 8 a, after the curtain plates have been lowered to the bottom of abody of water, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded side elevation view of the planting sled,according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a Blanket Roll Planting System (BR Planting System),according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a method for planting using a ram piston, accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 depicts a longitudinal cross sectional view of the apparatus,illustrating an exploded view of an attachment, as depicted in FIG. 2A,supra, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 depicts a transverse cross-sectional view of the apparatus,illustrating an exploded view of an attachment, as depicted in FIG. 2A,supra, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 14 depicts a longitudinal cross sectional view of the apparatus,illustrating an exploded view of an attachment, as depicted in FIG. 2A,supra, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 depicts a flow chart illustrating an automated method ofoperating the apparatuses as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 depicts a schematic block diagram of a computer forautomatically operating the apparatuses as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2A and2B, according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 100, such as a Closed Loop ExtractionLunch Box (“CLELB”), wherein an open side 90 of the apparatus 100 may befacing a bottom 80 of the body of water 83, and an edge 82 of a vessel110 may be directly and physically in contact with the bottom 80 of thebody of water 83, such that the contained water and suspended sediment152, the contained precipitated sediment 78 and the contained mud 85 maybe essentially completely isolated or separated from an uncontained areaof water and suspended sediment 150, the precipitated sediment 78′ andthe uncontained mud 85′ outside the vessel 110. The body of water 83 mayinclude water and suspended sediment 150 and the bottom 80 of the bodyof water 83, wherein the bottom 80 of the body of water 83 may includesediment 78′, mud 85′ and bedrock 87 and may be adjacent to a body ofland 160, such as, for example, a water along a shore, water along anedge of a river, water along an edge of a lakefront, or water along anedge of a beach. Alternatively, the edge 82 of the vessel 110 may bedirectly and physically in contact with the mud 85 and 85′, such thatthe contained water and suspended sediment 152, contained precipitatedsediment 78 and contained mud 85 may be essentially completely isolatedor separated from the uncontained area of water and suspended sediment150, the uncontained precipitated sediment 78′ and the uncontained mud85′. Alternatively, the edge 82 of the vessel 110 may be directly andphysically in contact with the precipitated sediment 78 and 78′, suchthat the contained water and suspended sediment 152 and containedprecipitated sediment 78 may be essentially completely isolated orseparated from the uncontained area of water and suspended sediment 150and the uncontained precipitated sediment 78′. The containedprecipitated sediment portion 78 and an uncontained precipitatedsediment portion 78′, may be, for example, contaminated material, thecontained mud portion 85 and the uncontained mud portion 85′ may be amixture of earth and water so as to be adhesive, and the bedrock portion87 may be rock, shale or other hard material that supports the mud, 85and 85′ and/or sediment, 78 and 78′. In some cases, some or all of thecontained sediment portion 78 and uncontained sediment portion 78′,and/or the contained mud portion 85 and the uncontained mud portion 85′of the bottom 80 of the body of water 83 may contain levels of chemicalcontamination, such that the levels of chemical contamination may beunhealthful or toxic to people, wildlife, such as fish, or plant lifeliving in the body of water 83. The chemical contamination may be heavymetals such as mercury, lead, or other metals such as chromium,magnesium, manganese, copper, or organics, such as polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCB's), dioxins, or halogenated or aromatic solvents such astrichloroethylene, toluene or benzene. Said levels may be as low as 0 to100 parts per trillion by weight, for example, or at the minimumdetection limit of modern analytical instruments for quantifying thelevel of chemical contamination. In cases for which the levels ofcontamination may be unhealthful or toxic, it may be desirable ornecessary to remove the chemically contaminated portions from the bottom80 using the apparatus 100 as depicted in FIG. 1.

The vessel 110 may comprise: viewing devices 105 a and 105 b, such aswaterproof cameras, may be used to display the contained area 93. Thevessel 110 may be a compartment-box or any other appropriate containerhaving water-proof walls. The vessel 110 may be made of rigid materialsuch as plastic, rubber or metal. Alternatively, the vessel 110 may bemade of flexible material such as flexible rubber. The vessel 110 mayhave any appropriate solid geometric shape such as polygon, cubic,cylindrical, spherical, pyramidal, rhomboid or conical. Conduits 70 mayhouse coaxial cables or other appropriate wiring to supply the viewingdevices 105 a and 105 b with electricity and to provide a data highwayover which pictures of the contained area 93 may be projected to anotherlocation for remote viewing. In addition, the viewing devices may beequipped with lights for illuminating the contained area 93, such aswaterproof electrically powered lights or with light sticks that may beilluminated by chemiluminescence.

The apparatus 100 may comprise a “closed loop” piping system 45, whereina portion of the “closed loop” piping system 45 may be defined by pathsGA, IM, and LN from vessel 110 via exit lines 145 a′, 145 b′ and 145 c′respectively, and processing system feed line 60 to a process system140, such as a filter system, via a valve 51, wherein the process system140 may include a pump. A remaining portion of the “closed loop” pipingsystem 45 may be defined by paths DH, EJ, and FK to vessel 110 viareturn lines 147 a′, 147 b′, and 147 c′ respectively, and process systemexit lines 62, 149, and 151 via valves 52 and 53. In addition to thefiltering system and the pump, the process system 140 may includeviewing, monitoring, pressure, and vacuum control, material transport,testing, tooling, and treatment technologies. The treatment technologiesmay include the aforementioned treatments, for example, removal of toxicchemicals or elements by chemical treatments using additives, reducers,catalysts, microbes, stabilizers, adhesives, charged particles, gases,or elements. The apparatus 100, including the process system 140, maybring a controlled clinical setting out of the laboratory and into theenvironment. The apparatus 100 also may include isolation valves 50-55,and 69.

Referring to FIG. 1, when bottom 80 of the body of water 83 may becontaminated with chemicals that may be toxic to animals and humans suchas polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or trichloroethylene (TCE) or heavymetals such as Pb, As, Cu, or Hg, the chemical contamination mayconcentrate in the water and suspended sediment 150 and 152 of the bodyof water 83, and/or in the precipitated sediment 78 and 78′, and/or inthe mud 85 and 85′, and/or on the bedrock 87 of the bottom 80 of a bodyof water 83. The sediment 78 and 78′ may include silt particles, whereinfine silt has a diameter from about 0.002 mm to about 0.006 mm, mediumsilt has a diameter from about 0.006 mm to about 0.02 mm, and coarsesilt may be from about 0.02 mm to about 0.063 mm. Cleanup processesinvolving removal of chemical contamination often target removal orcleansing treatment of the sediment 78 and 78′, such as silt, becausethe highest concentration of chemical contaminants may be in the waterand suspended sediment 150 and 152 and/or the precipitated sediment 78and 78′ due to a higher surface area of the sediment compared to largerparticles of mud 85 and 85′.

A deficiency of commonly used methods of removal of contaminatedsediment, such as dredging of contaminated material may be that only asmall percentage, sometimes less than 10 percent by weight of thecontaminated material, may be actually removed. Commonly used methods ofdredging to remove contaminated sediment typically use an open mouthedbucket, such that the water and suspended sediment 150 and 152, thesediment 78 and 78′, and the mud 85 and 85′ may escape back into thebody of water 83 by leaking out of the bucket through the open mouth.Sediment having small diameter such as sediment in the water andsuspended sediment 150 and 152, sediment 78 and 78′, such as silt,and/or in the mud 85 and 85′, that may be light and fluffy by nature,may be hard to contain during commonly used methods of removal ofcontaminated sediment, such as, for example, dredging operations in theopen mouth bucket, for example. A purpose of the present invention maybe to overcome at least one deficiency of dredging by providing acontainer, such as the vessel 110, that may be used to essentiallycompletely contain the contaminated material that may be in the body ofwater 83, such that when the contaminated materials may be contained inthe vessel 110, (and the vessel 210 depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B anddescribed herein) “the contaminated materials may be essentiallyquantitatively removed or essentially quantitatively converted to, forexample, non-toxic or harmless chemical derivatives. A second purpose ofthe present invention may be to overcome the at least one deficiency ofdredging by providing a container, such as the vessels 110, (and thevessel 210 depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B and described herein) that may beused to contain greater than 10% by weight of the contaminated materialthat may be in the body of water 83, such that when the contaminatedmaterials may be contained in the vessel 110, the contaminated materialsmay be essentially quantitatively removed or essentially quantitativelyconverted to, for example, non-toxic or harmless chemical derivatives.Hereinafter, “non-toxic or harmless chemical derivatives” include carbondioxide, water, and/or hydrogen chloride. Hereinafter, “essentiallyquantitative removal or essentially quantitative conversion” of thechemical contamination means removal or conversion of essentially 100%by weight of the essentially completely contained contaminatedmaterials. Hereinafter, “contaminated materials” may include portions ofthe water and suspended sediment 150 and 152, the precipitated sediment78 and 78′, the mud 85 and 85′ and the bedrock 87 that have beencontaminated with chemicals that may be toxic or harmful to people,wildlife, or vegetation. Alternatively, “contaminated materials” mayinclude portions of the water and suspended sediment 150 and 152, theprecipitated sediment 78 and 78′, the mud 85 and 85′ and the bedrock 87that have been tainted by other forms of waste such as sewage, sludge orindustrial waste that may foul a body of water 83.

The contaminated material in the bottom 80 of the body of water 83 maybe located as to longitude and latitude coordinates in the bottom 80 ofthe body of water 83, such as in the locations 89 and 91, by testingsamples from the locations 89 and 91, using any appropriate testingmethod for detecting and/or quantifying parts per trillion levels orhigher of the chemicals or other form of waste, and mapping theconcentrations of the contaminants, such as chemical contaminants, fromlocations 89 and 91 according to the longitude and latitude coordinatesfrom which the sample(s) originated. Hereinafter, mapping means creatinga map showing locations on the surface of the earth, as to longitude andlatitude coordinates, that may relate concentrations of thecontaminants, such as chemical contaminants, according to the longitudeand latitude coordinates (e.g. of locations 89 and 91) from which thesamples were taken. The longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of thelocations 89 and 91 may be determined using any appropriate mappingsystem, such as, for example, a Geographical Positioning System (GPS)40. If tests show the concentration of the contamination, such aschemical contamination, at a location, e.g. 89 or 91, may besufficiently high designating the locations as being harmful or toxic topeople, wildlife or vegetation, because of sufficiently highcontamination, such as chemical contamination, the apparatus 100 may beused to remove the contamination, such as the chemical contamination, asdescribed infra in a method 600 for removing chemical contaminants, asdepicted in FIG. 3A. Even 1 part per trillion levels of certain chemicalcontaminants such as heavy metals, PCB's or dioxins have been found tobe sufficiently high to warrant that the chemical contamination may beharmful or toxic to people, wildlife or vegetation.

In the step 620 of the method 600, the apparatus 100 may be positionedover the location designated as having a level harmful to humans,wildlife or vegetation, such as over one or both locations 89 and 91 ofthe bottom 80 of the body of water 83, as depicted in FIG. 1, resultingin essentially completely containing the contaminated material that maybe in the regions 89 and/or 91, such as in contaminated water andsuspended sediment 152, and/or in the contaminated precipitated sediment78, and/or in the contaminated mud 85, and/or in the contaminatedbedrock 87, in the vessel 110.

The vessel 110 may be “lowered” into position by mechanical or othermeans, in accordance with the step 620 of the method 600, as describedinfra, and depicted in FIG. 3A. By removing air/water/materials out ofan interior 93 of the vessel 110, as described in the step 650 of themethod 600, a weight of the vessel 110 may drive the edge 82 of thevessel 110 deeper into the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, resultingin creating a releasable seal 95 at the edge 82 of the vessel 110, thatmay be formed from sediment 78′ and mud 85′ of the bottom 80 outside ofthe vessel 110 pressing against the edge 82 and either sediment 78, mud85 or the bedrock 87, depending on how deep the vessel 110 was driven.The releasable seal 95 thereby may isolate the interior 93 from thewater 150, and/or the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, that may beoutside the vessel 110.

In the positioning step 620 of the method 600, the vessel 110 may bepartially submerged or completely submerged below the surface 170 of thebody of water 83, as long as the edge 82 directly and physicallycontacts the bottom 80 of the body of water 83.

In the containing and suspending step 630 of the method 600, paddles 125a and 125 b, such as augers, spray heads, whips, props, fluid and gasdistribution devices, etc. may provide agitation of the interior 93 ofthe vessel 110, resulting in suspending a portion or essentially all ofthe bottom material, e.g., 78, or 85 of the bottom 80 that may becontained in the interior 93 of the vessel 110, wherein the suspendedportion may include the contaminated material. The contaminated materialmay be a range from 0-100 percent by weight of the total material of thebottom 80 in the interior 93 of the vessel 110.

In the step 630, a rate of agitation necessary to suspend thecontaminated material, for example, in locations 89 and 91 may beempirically determined, based on the weight percent of the bottommaterial targeted for removal, wherein higher agitation may be needed tosuspend more of the portion of the bottom 80 having contaminatedmaterial. The contaminated suspended material in the water and suspendedmaterial 152 may be conveyed through the “closed loop” piping system 45to a processing system 140 such as a filter system having in-linechemical testing equipment in order to identify the suspended materialsthat may be contaminated and to separate them from a fluid such as waterin the suspended material and water 152. In one embodiment, theidentified suspended material that may be contaminated can be conveyedfrom the interior 93 of the vessel 110 through the exit lines 145 a′,145 b′ and 145 c′, through the processing system feed line 60, throughthe valve 51 to the processing system 140 where the contaminatedsuspended materials may be removed. The separated fluid can be recycledback into the vessel 110 through the valve 53, the process system exitlines 62 and 149, the valve 52, the process system exit line 51, thereturn lines 147 a′, 147 b′, and 147 c′, and finally back to theinterior 93 of the vessel 110. A rate of removal of contaminatedmaterials such as, e.g., contaminated soil and silt, from the vessel 110and rate of return of the processed fluids and processed contaminatedmaterial, such as, e.g., soil and silt, to the vessel 110 may becontrolled such that an essentially net zero pressure difference may bemeasured between the interior 93 and the outside of the vessel 110, e.g.at the open rim 90 of the vessel 110, and at the releasable seal 95 thatmay be formed from bottom 80, e.g., sediment 78′ and mud 85′ of thebottom 80, outside of the vessel 110 that may releasably seal the edge82 onto either sediment 78, mud 85 or the bedrock 87, depending how deepthe vessel 110 was driven. Therefore, in the steps 650-660, essentiallyno contaminated suspended material may escape from the essentiallycomplete containment provided by the apparatus 100 during operation ofthe “closed loop” piping system 45 as described in the steps 610-670 ofthe method 600, as described infra and depicted in FIG. 3A. “Additives”or “reducers” (catalysts, microbes, stabilizers, adhesives, chargedparticles, gases, elements, known or unknown) can be fed from feed line143 into the “closed loop” piping system 45 through valve 50.

An efficiency of the processing system 140 may be determined bycomparing a turbidity of the fluid in the return lines 147 a′, 147 b′,and 147 c′ to the turbidity of the fluid and suspended soil and silt inthe exit lines 145 a′, 145 b′ and 145 c′. It has been found that thepercent efficiency of removal of contaminated material by filtering maybe essentially 100.0% if the processing system 140 may include 0.2 to100 micron paper or cloth filters, wherein the percent efficiency may bedetermined by converting a ratio of the turbidity of the fluid into theprocessing system 140 and the turbidity of the fluid out of theprocessing system 140 to percent. Efficiency between 50% and 95% may beachieved using sand filters such as for filtering swimming pools, having#20 silica with a particle diameter of the sand being from about 0.40 mmto about 0.50 mm, available from Jandy, PO Box 6000, Petaluma, Calif.94955-6000. Recommended sands may be sand grade 0.45 mm to about 0.55,having an average diameter of 0.46 mm, available from Wedron/Best SandCompany, or sand grade 0.45 mm to about 0.55 mm, having an averagediameter of 0.48 mm, available from U.S. Silica/Silurian Filter Sand.Weight of sand for charging the filter may be determined by one skilledin the art with a minimum of experimentation based on choosing a weightof sand appropriate to filter 2.0 to 2.5 times the volume of suspendedsediment and water in the vessel 110 per hour, without exceeding 50 psiinternal pressure in the sand filter. The processing system 140 can be amicro-filtration system or a chemical reaction process that may beactivated by light such as lasers, light emitting diodes including laseremitting diodes, UV or thermal energy. Once monitoring levels are met,recycled materials, such as the treated contaminated materials or growthpackets 780 and 900, as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, infra, may bereturned into the vessel 110, through the closed-loop piping system 45,enabling the materials to settle out, resulting in refilling theextraction site with soil or silt, wherein the chemical contaminationhas been sufficiently removed such that the soil or silt meetsmonitoring levels and wherein erosion of the river bottom 80 of the bodyof water 83 may be minimized because the returned recycled materials,such as filtered or processed soil or silt re-fills any holes left whenthe vessel 110 may be withdrawn for relocation to another contaminatedlocation of the river bottom.

The vessel 110 allows for removals “in place” with continuous monitoringand minimal exposure to the surroundings. This process 140 exists forextraction without released re-suspension.

In one embodiment, the present invention solves the problem ofcontaining the contaminated material by providing a resealable/sealablevessel 110 for sampling, viewing, monitoring, separating, testing,treating, injecting, replacing or removing contaminated materials thatinclude silt, sludge, stone materials, ores, metals, or elements, etc.from a bottom 80 of a body of water 83.

Generally, the present invention may be an apparatus 100 for sampling,viewing monitoring, separating, testing, treating, injecting, replacingor removing materials that include silt, sludge, stone materials, ores,metals, or elements, etc. from a bottom of a body of fluids, such as,for example, a chemically contaminated bottom 80 of a body of water 83.The apparatus 100 may comprise an open-faced vessel 110, a globalpositioning device 40, and a closed loop piping system 45.

The open faced vessel 110 may form a releasable seal 95 with the bottom80 of the body of water 83 and may include at least one agitator 125 a,125 b, 135 a, 135 b, 135 c, 135 d, and 127 for suspending portions ofcontaminated materials from the bottoms such as, for example, silt,sludge, stone materials, ores, metals, or elements, etc. Power station120 may provide power, such as, for example, mechanical or electricalpower. The at least one agitator 125 a, 125 b, 135 a, 135 b, 135 c, 135d, and 127 may also may include at least one outlet port 145 a, 145 b,and 145 c through which a mixture of the portions of the bottoms andwater may be withdrawn from the vessel 110 for monitoring, separating,testing, treating, injecting, replacing, or removing the portions. Theagitators may be variable speed impellers 125 a and 125 b, whip 127 ornozzles 135 a, 135 b, 135 c, 135 d for directing a stream of water orair at variable pressures from any appropriate device, such as, air orwater jets 130. The area sampled may be any area equivalent to the areaof contamination, such as, e.g., chemical contamination, limited only bypractical considerations such as costs of materials and benefit fromminimizing the number of relocations of the vessel 110 in order tosample the contaminated area. In one embodiment the vessel 110 or 210(as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and described herein) may be from about1-1,000,000 sq. ft. to sample the area of contamination. The vessel 110,impellers 125 a and 125 b, whips 127 or nozzles 135 a, 135 b, 135 c, 135d may be metal, or metal alloy, such as, for example, carbon steel,aluminum, stainless steel, rubber, plastic or composites.

The global positioning device (GPD) 40 or other appropriate computerizedpositioning device may be for determining a position of the vessel towithin +/−0.12 inches of, for example, a known chemically contaminatedsite on the bottom 80 of the body of water 83.

The process system 140 may include a two directional pump forcirculating materials into and out of the vessel 110. It may be possiblefor a vacuum or negative pressure to result in the vessel 110 if theclosed loop piping system 45 may be under a vacuum when the contaminatedmaterials, such as, for example, the water and suspended sediment, 152,silt, 78, or mud, 85 inside the vessel 110 may be removed from thevessel 110 and drawn into the piping system 45, wherein the releasableseal 95 may prevent relief of the vacuum, such as, by leakage ofmaterials, such as, for example, uncontaminated silt, 78′,uncontaminated mud, 85′ or uncontaminated water 150 into the vessel 110.Alternatively, it may be possible for a positive pressure to result inthe vessel 110 if the closed loop piping system 45 may be full of air orany other compressible fluid when the contaminated materials, such as,for example, the water and suspended sediment, 152, silt, 78, or mud, 85inside the vessel 110 may be removed from the vessel 110 and drawn intothe piping system 45, wherein the releasable seal 95 may prevent reliefof the pressure buildup by leakage of materials, such as, for example,the water and suspended sediment, 152, silt, 78, or mud, 85 out of thevessel 110. A portion of the contaminated materials, such as, forexample, sediment, 78, such as silt, that may be higher in chemicalcontamination, may be removed from the water by the processing system140, such as, e.g., micro-filters, and water and remaining portions ofthe material, such as, for example, mud, 85, may be returned to thevessel 110. The processing system 140, such as, e.g., the micro-filtersmay be cleaned to remove chemically contaminated materials, such as,e.g., silt or other micro-materials, with high frequency bursts ofpressure or by ultra sonic bursts during periods when the “closed loop”apparatus 100 may be inactive. The monitoring may include testing forchemicals or elements, known, or unknown, such as polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCB), dioxin, and other toxic chemical solvents such astrichloroethylene (TCE). The treatment may include, for example, removalof toxic chemicals or elements by, for example, chemical treatmentsusing additives, reducers, catalysts, microbes, stabilizers, adhesives,charged particles, gases, or elements. Once treated, cleaned, separatedmaterials, such as the portions absent the silt, may be returned to thebottom 80 of the body of water 83 via the closed loop piping system 45.

In summary, the claimed invention may allow for removals “in place” withcontinuous monitoring and minimal exposure to the surroundings. Theclaimed process may extract toxic chemicals from portions of the bottom80 or may remove silt and/or may return remaining portions of thebottoms in areas as small as 1 square feet with exact positioning within+/−0.12 inches of, for example, a known chemically contaminated site onthe bottom of the body of water 83.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an apparatus 200, such as an Open or ClosedLoop Extraction Lunch Box, OCLELB, comprising at least one “open orclosed loop” piping system(s) 188, according to embodiments of thepresent invention. The apparatus 200 may comprise, illustratively, avessel 210, at least one pipe(s) 245 a, 245 b, 245 c, 247 a, 247 b, 247c, and 248, at least one agitating device(s) 235 a, 235 b, 235 c, 235 d,225 a, 225 b, and 227, at least one observing device(s) 205 a, 205 a′and 205 b, 205 b′, at least one sample site(s) 310 a, 310 b, 310 c, and310 d, at least one processing system(s) 320, and/or a filter system330, and/or a by-pass system 340, and/or a contaminants holding site350, and/or a clean holding site 360, and/or an adder site 370, and/or apump 380, and/or a power station 390, and/or at least one isolationvalve(s) 405-482. The growth packet 780, as depicted in FIG. 4 anddescribed in associated text, may be pumped by systems such as theapparatuses 100 or 200 or planting systems 1000, or 3000, depicted inFIGS. 6A, 9, and 10, infra, used to pump growth packets 900 and 3110into soil whether above or below waterline as in river bottoms for soilerosion control.

The vessel 210 may comprise an opening 210′ adapted for facing and beingin direct physical contact with the bottom 180 of a body of water 250 soas to form a contained area 274 inside the vessel 210. The body of water220 may include water and suspended sediment 250 and bottom 180 of thebody of water 220, wherein the bottom 180 of the body of water 220includes sediment 270 and bedrock 280. The vessel 210 may be made ofrigid material such as plastic, rubber or metal. Alternatively, thevessel 210 may be made of flexible material such as flexible rubber. Thevessel 210 may have any appropriate solid geometric shape such aspolygon, cubic, cylindrical, spherical, pyramidal, rhomboid or conical.The vessel 210 can be made of steel, plastic, or any material that canisolate and contain air and liquids. In one embodiment, a flexible skirt185 may extend a rim 183 of the vessel 210, to provide a flexibleextension of the rim 183, wherein the flexible skirt 185 may wrap aroundrocks or other solid debris on the bottom 180 of the body of water 250,enabling the flexible skirt 185 of the vessel 210 to be in directphysical contact with the bottom 180 so as to isolate the contained area274 of the vessel 210 from the outside of the vessel, even though therim 183 may be prevented from physically contacting the bottom 180because it may not be able to penetrate the rock or debris. In oneembodiment, the vessel 210 may comprise one or more hooks 214 a and 214b. Illustratively, the hook 214 b can be used for coupling via cable 186with a lifting device 182 such as a crane, wherein the lifting device182 may be secured to a floating vessel 181 such as a boat or barge. Thevessel 210 can have any shape that facilitates its movement (lifting andlowering) in or out of the water or to enable it to circumvent rocks ordebris on the bottom 180 of the body of water 250.

In one embodiment, the at least one pipe(s) 248 can comprise anattachment 248″, wherein the attachment 248″ may be operatively coupledto the pipe 248 at an opening 248′ of the at least one pipe(s) 248. Theattachment 248″ may be a drill head or auger to facilitate inserting theat least one pipe(s) 248 into the bottom 180 of the body of water 220.The attachment 248″ of the at least one pipe(s) 248, when the attachment248″ may be a drill head or auger, can be used for performing coresampling, wherein a core sample is a sample of soil or sediment from thebottom 180 of the body of water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A. In oneembodiment, with the help of the attachment 248″, such as, for example,the drill head or auger, the at least one pipe(s) 248 may be insertedinto the bottom of the body of water 220 such that a column of thebottom materials (i.e., a core sample) may be inserted into the interiorof the at least one pipe(s) 248. The attachment 248″, such as the drillhead or auger, may be mounted on a drill head or auger sled for easypositioning, such as the planting sled 1040 of the apparatus 1000 asdepicted in FIGS. 6A and 9 and described herein, wherein the attachment248″, such as the drill head or auger may be substituted for the rampiston 3220, as depicted in FIG. 10, infra. Then, the core sample can betransported via the at least one pipe(s) 248 out of the interior 274 ofthe vessel 210 for testing.

Alternatively the attachment 248″ may be a filter. FIG. 12, infra,depicts a transverse cross section of the attachment 248″, when theattachment 248″ may be a filter.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, each of the at least one agitatingdevice(s) 235 a, 235 b, 235 c, and 235 d can be in the form of a nozzlethrough which a fluid (usually water) may be pumped under high pressureinto the interior 274 of the vessel 210 so as to agitate the materialsinside the vessel 210. Each of the at least one agitating device(s) 225a and 225 b can be an impeller having multiple blades. The at least oneagitating devices 225 a and 225 b can be powered by a power station 390.

The at least one agitating device(s) 227 can have the form of a whiphaving multiple branches. Each branch may have a hollow core throughwhich water (or other fluids) can be pumped under high pressure into theinterior 274 of the vessel 210 so as to agitate the materials inside thevessel 210. The whip 227 can spin or rotate while water may be beingpumped through it into the interior 274 of the vessel 210. Similar tothe at least one device(s) 225 a and 225 b, the at least one agitatingdevice(s) 227 can also be powered by the power station 390.

In one embodiment, the at least one observing device(s) 205 a, 205 a′can comprise a sonar head 205 a and a sonar display 205 a′. The sonarhead 205 a can be used for collecting information about the thickness ofthe sediment layer 270. The sonar display 205 a′ can be used fordisplaying the information collected by the sonar head 205 a.

In one embodiment, the at least one observing device(s) 205 b, 205 b′can comprise a camera 205 b and a display 205 a′. The camera 205 b canbe used for collecting image data inside the vessel 210. The display 205a′ can be used for displaying the image data collected by the camera 205b. The camera 205 b can include a light bulb (not shown) that can emitlight sufficiently strong for viewing the entire interior 274 of thevessel 210. In one embodiment, the at least one observing device(s) 205b, 205 b′ can be used as a camera for determining if the vessel 210 maybe lowered upon an uneven bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as ariver bottom or upon a rock or debris at the river bottom. If so, theposition of the vessel 210 can be adjusted such that the edge of thevessel 210 would touch the river bottom so as to isolate the interior274 of the vessel 210 from the outside of the vessel 210.

FIG. 3A illustrates a flow chart of a method 600 for transportingmaterials from a bottom of a body of water for processing, the methodcomprising (a) providing a vessel including an opening, (b) positioningthe vessel such that the opening may be facing the bottom of the body ofwater and may be in direct physical contact with the bottom of the bodyof water, (c) containing and suspending the materials inside the vessel,(d) providing a first pipe coupled to the vessel, and (e) transporting,via the first pipe, the suspended materials from an interior of thevessel to an exterior of the vessel. The method 600 can be used foroperating the apparatus 200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, according to embodimentsof the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3A, themethod 600 starts at step 610 in which a vessel 210 having an opening210′ may be provided. Then, in step 620, the vessel 210 may bepositioned at the bottom 180 of the body of water 220 such as the bottomof a river (or any other body of water). In one embodiment, the vessel210 may be positioned, wherein the opening 210′ may face a location 190of contaminated material such as, for example, chemically contaminatedmaterial. The location 190 may have been positioned on a map as to itslongitude and latitude coordinates using aforementioned chemical mappingtechniques, such that an operator of the apparatus 200 may be able toposition the apparatus 200 over the location 190 of contaminatedmaterial, as depicted in FIG. 2A. In one embodiment, the operator of theapparatus 200 may lower the apparatus 200 by a crane 182 using the hooks214 a and 214 b to the location 190 of a first untreated position at thebottom 180 of the body of water 220 such that the opening 210′ may befacing the bottom 180. In one embodiment, the location 190 of the firstuntreated position may be located using a GPS device 255. In oneembodiment, the pump 380 may pull materials including air, water, bottommaterial such as sediment and/or mud from the interior 274 of the vessel210 via the at least one pipe(s) 245 a, 245 b, and 245 c, resulting indrawing a rim 183 into the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such asthe river bottom, such that the rim 183 may have physically and directlycontacted the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, resulting in forminga releasable seal 257 with the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, suchas a river bottom. In some embodiments, no air/water may remain insidethe vessel 210. The pump 380 can continue to pull air/water out of thevessel 210 so as to further decrease the pressure inside the vessel 210.As a result, the vessel 210 may be releasably sealed into the bottom 180of the body of water 220, such as the sediment layer 270 above thebedrock 280. In general, the pump 380 can be used for moving suspendedmaterials 252′ throughout the apparatus 200, resulting in removal orchemical conversion of the contaminated material from the bottom 180 ofthe body of water 220. As a result, materials may flow from the interior274 of the vessel 210 out of the vessel 210. Also, pumping materialsinto the interior 274 of the vessel 210 after completing methods 600 or700 may release the releasable seal 257, allowing the vessel 210 torelease from the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as the riverbottom. The pump 380 can also be used for pumping materials (mostlywater) out of the vessel 210 so as to decrease the pressure inside thevessel 210. As a result, materials will flow into the interior 274 ofthe vessel 210 from the at least one pipe(s) 147 a, b, c. Also, pumpingmaterials out of the vessel 210 may increase a strength of thereleasable seal 257 between the vessel 210 and the bottom 180 of thebody of water 220, such as the river bottom.

In one embodiment, the vessel 210 may be designed to be airtight on allsides except the opening 210′. As a result, when the vessel 210 has beeninserted in the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as thesediment layer 270 at the bottom of the river, the materials inside thevessel 210 (i.e., in the interior 274) may be essentially completelyisolated from an exterior of the vessel 210.

Next, in step 630, materials inside the vessel 210 may be essentiallycompletely contained and suspended inside the vessel 210. In thecontaining and suspending step 630 of the method 600, paddles 225 a and225 b, such as augers, spray heads, whips, props, fluid and gasdistribution devices, etc. may provide agitation of the interior 252 ofthe vessel 210, resulting in suspending a portion or essentially all ofthe bottom material, e.g., 270, or 280 of the body of water 220 that maybe contained in the interior 252 of the vessel 210, wherein thesuspended portion may include the contaminated material. In oneembodiment, the at least one agitating device(s) 235 a, 235 b, 235 c,235 d, 225 a, 225 b, and 227 may be operated to suspend the contaminatedmaterial in the mixture 252′ in the interior 252 of the vessel 210. As aresult, the contaminated materials in the bottom 180 of the body ofwater 220, such as, e.g., the contaminated materials in the sedimentlayer 270 may form a mixture 252′ by removing contaminated materialsfrom the sediment layer 270 and interspersing the contaminated materialswith water in the interior 252 of the vessel 210. As long as agitationcontinues, the contaminated materials such as, e.g., the contaminatedsediment in the mixture 252′ do not precipitate to the bottom. In otherwords, the contaminated sediment materials in the mixture 252′ may besaid to be suspended in the mixture 252′. In step 630, the mixture 252′that may contain contaminated sediment materials may be essentiallycompletely contained and suspended in the mixture 252′ in the interior252 of the vessel 210.

Then, in step 640, an at least one pipe(s) 245 may be provided which maybe coupled to the vessel 210. In one embodiment, the at least onepipe(s) 245 may branch as at least one branch pipe(s) 245 a, 245 b, and245 c. Then, in step 650, the materials suspended inside the vessel 210may be transported out of the vessel 210 through the pipe 245 forprocessing. More specifically, the mixture 252′ containing the removedand suspended contaminated sediment materials may be transported out ofthe vessel 210 via the pipe 245 for processing.

Each of the at least one isolation valve(s) 405-482 can be either openor closed. If open, the at least one isolation valve(s) 405-482 mayallow fluid to pass through. When closed, the valve(s) prevents fluidfrom passing through. The valves 405-482 in the apparatus 200 can beused for isolating different portions of the apparatus 200. By openingsome of the valves 405-482 and closing the remaining valves, materialscan be carried around the apparatus 200 along a desired path forprocessing. In one embodiment, in order to keep the pressure inside thevessel 210 unchanged, materials (e.g., air or water) may be allowed toflow from the clean holding site 360 to the interior 274 of the vessel210 via the at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470, and the at leastone pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b, and 247 c. The clean holding site 360 can beused for holding a filtrate transported from the interior 274 of thevessel 210 via the filtering system 330. The materials in the cleanholding site 360 can undergo further processing and treatment beforebeing either transported back into the interior 274 of the vessel 210 orshipped elsewhere. The adder site 370 can be used for holding materialsto be added to the interior 274 of the vessel 210. In one embodiment,each of the at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470 may be configured tobecome open when the pressure difference between its two ends exceedssome pre-specified value. As a result, when the mixture 252′ containingthe removed sediment materials may be pumped out of the vessel 210 viathe pipe 245, the at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470 mayautomatically open to allow materials (e.g., air and/or water and/ortreatment chemicals to convert toxic or harmful contaminants into carbondioxide, water or HCl) to flow from the clean holding site 360 to theinterior 274 of the vessel 210. Therefore, the pressure inside thevessel 210 may remain unchanged.

Then, in step 660, the materials transported out of the vessel 210 maybeprocessed outside the vessel 210. In one embodiment, the mixture 252′containing the removed contaminated sediment can be transported frominside the vessel 210 to the processing system 320 via the at least onepipe(s) 245 a, 245 b, and 245 c (i.e., the branches off pipe 245) andthe at least one valves 432 and 410. In the processing system 320, themixture 252′ can undergo thermal, chemical, radiation, or otherprocesses so as to treat (remove, alter, etc.) the contaminants from themixture 252′ so they become less or nontoxic. After processing, themixture 252′ can be transported either back to the interior 274 of thevessel 210 via the at least one valve(s) 412, 422, 436, 464, and 470 andthe at least one pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b, and 247 c or to the clean holdingsite 360 via the at least one valve(s) 412, 422, 436, and 446. Thematerials in the clean holding site 360 can be returned to the interior274 of the vessel 210 via the at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470,and the at least one pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b, and 247 c.

In one embodiment, the mixture 252′ can be transported to the filteringsystem 330 via the at least one valve(s) 440 so that contaminants in themixture 252′ can be filtered out. The filtered contaminants can beperiodically removed from the filter system 330. The remaining mixtureafter filtering can be transported either back to the interior 274 ofthe vessel 210 via the at least one valve(s) 442, 454, 462, and 470 andthe at least one pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b, and 247 c or to the clean holdingsite 360 via the at least one valve(s) 442, 444, and 446. The materialsin the clean holding site 360 can be returned to the interior 274 of thevessel 210 via the at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470, and the atleast one pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b, and 247 c.

In one embodiment, the mixture 252′ containing the removed sedimentmaterials can be transported from inside the vessel 210 to thecontaminants holding site 350 via the at least one pipe(s) 245 a, 245 b,and 245 c, the valve 450, the by-pass system 340, and the at least onevalve(s) 452, 454, 444, 436, and 424. In the contaminants holding site350, the mixture may undergo processes similar to those in theprocessing system 320 described above. After being processed at thecontaminants holding site 350, the mixture can be transported eitherback to the interior 274 of the vessel 210 via the at least one valve(s)424, 436, 464, and 470 and the at least one pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b, and247 c or to the clean holding site 360 via the at least one valve(s)424, 436, and 446. The materials in the clean holding site 360 can bereturned to the interior 274 of the vessel 210 via the at least onevalve(s) 446, 464, and 470 and the at least one pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b,and 247 c.

The concentration of contaminants may be monitored along the at leastone path(s) by locating an at least one sample site(s) 310 a, 310 b, 310c, and 310 d on the at least one path(s) of the mixture 252′ from thevessel 210 before and after processing.

More specifically, the sample site 310 a may be directly coupled via thevalve 431 to a node A1 which the mixture 252′ from the inside of thevessel 210 flows through before going to different destinations. Here,“directly coupled” means that there may be no processing in between. Asa result, samples of the mixture 252′ before processing can be taken viathe valve 431 from the sample site 310 a, such that the concentration ofthe contaminants in the mixture 252′ before processing can be measured.In one embodiment, in the step 670 of the method 600, when the measuredconcentration of the contaminants may be below a pre-specified level,the processing may be stopped and either (i) the vessel 210 may belifted from the current location and lowered and inserted into anotherlocation on the bottom of the body of water 220 or (ii) more sedimentmaterials from the top of the sediment layer 270 may be removed byagitation as described above for further processing. In one embodiment,the pre-specified level of contaminants can be specified by the owner(s)of the body of water 250 (FIG. 2A) or authorities responsible forcleaning the sediment 270 (FIG. 2A).

Similarly, the sample site 310 b may be directly coupled via the valve434 to a node A2 which the mixture 252′ from the filtering system 330exits through before going to different destinations. As a result,samples of the mixture 252′ after filtering can be taken via the valve434 to the sample site 310 b where the concentration of the contaminantsin the mixture after filtering can be measured so that the quality ofthe filtering process can be monitored.

Similarly, the sample site 310 c may be directly coupled via the valve460 to a node A3 which the mixture 252′ after processing flows throughbefore returning to the interior 274 of the vessel 210 via the at leastone pipe(s) 247 a, 247 b, and 247 c. As a result, the sample site 310 ccan be used for monitoring a concentration of contaminants in themixture 252′ that flows back to the interior 274 of the vessel 210,after processing.

Similarly, the sample site 310 d may be directly coupled via the valve414 to a node A4 which the mixture 252′ from the processing system 320exits through before going to different destinations. As a result,samples of the mixture 252′ after processing can be taken via the valve414 to the sample site 310 d where the concentration of the contaminantsin the mixture after processing can be measured so that the quality ofthe processes performed in the processing system 320 can be monitored.

In step 670, a determination may be made as to whether the materialstransported out of the vessel 210 may be sufficiently clean (i.e., theconcentration of the contaminants in the resulting mixture 252′ has beenreduced to a pre-specified level). If the answer may be negative, themethod 600 loops back to step 650. In other words, suspended materialscontinue to be transported out of the vessel 210 (step 650) andprocessed (step 660) so as to remove contaminants. If the answer to thequestion in step 670 is affirmative, the method 600 may stop. Then, thevessel 210 may be removed from the current location and positioned atanother location on the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, and themethod 600 may be performed again. In one embodiment, after the sedimentlayer 270 inside the vessel 210 has been treated to a satisfactory level(i.e., the concentration of the contaminants in the resulting mixture252′ has been reduced to a pre-specified level), a contaminants map maybe updated to indicate that the current location has been treated. Then,a determination may be made as to whether the current location may bethe last one to be treated. If the answer is negative, the vessel 210can be lifted and lowered to the next untreated location using a liftingdevice such as a crane 182 coupled to the hooks 214 a and 214 b. If theanswer to the question is affirmative, the operation may be concluded.

FIG. 3B illustrates a flow chart of a method 700 for processingcontaminated material at a bottom of a body of water, the methodcomprising (a) providing a vessel including an opening, (b) placing thevessel such that the opening may be facing a layer of contaminatedmaterial on the bottom of the body of water and may be in directphysical contact with a top layer of the contaminated material, (c)containing and suspending, within the vessel, the contaminated materialin an interior of the vessel, and (d) suspending the contaminatedmaterial until a pre-specified thickness of the top layer of thecontaminated material may be suspended in the interior of the vessel.The method 700 can be used for operating the apparatus 200 of FIGS. 2Aand 2B, according to embodiments of the present invention. The step 710of the method 700 may be similar to the steps 610 of the method 600. Inother words, in step 710, the vessel 210 having the opening 210′ may beprovided. In step 720, the vessel 210 may be placed at the firstuntreated location at the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, such as theriver bottom.

In step 730, materials inside the vessel 210 may be contained andsuspended inside the vessel 210. In one embodiment, the at least oneagitating device(s) 235 a, 235 b, 235 c, 235 d, 225 a, 225 b, and 227may be operated to stir up (i.e., agitate) the water 252, that may beinside vessel 210. A chemical contamination map may be used which showshow deep the sediment layer 270 may be contaminated with a certaincontaminant. In step 740, the materials suspended in step 730 may beprocessed to eliminate the contaminants. In step 750, a determinationmay be made as to whether a pre-specified thickness of the sedimentlayer 270 may be suspended in the mixture 252′ inside the vessel 210. Ifthe answer is negative, the method 700 loops back to step 730. In otherwords, steps 730 and 740 may be performed until the pre-specifiedthickness of the sediment layer 270 may be suspended in the mixture 252′inside the vessel 210. If the answer to the question in step 750 isaffirmative, the method 700 stops. After that, the vessel 210 can belifted and placed at another untreated location 190 of the bottom 180 ofthe body of water 220, and the method 700 may be performed again at theother untreated location. In one embodiment, the at least one observingdevice(s) 205 a, 205 a′ and 205 b, 205 b′ can be used to monitor thethickness of the sediment layer 270 so as to determine whether agitationhas reached the desired depth. For example, assume, according to thecontaminant map, that at the location where the vessel 210 may beinserted into the sediment layer 270, the thickness of the sedimentlayer 270 may be 25 inches. Assume further that only the top 10 inchesof the sediment layer 270 contain the contaminant according to thecontaminant map. As a result, the at least one agitating device(s) 235a, 235 b, 235 c, 235 d, 225 a, 225 b, and 227 may be allowed to operateuntil the at least one observing device(s) 205 a, 205 a′ and 205 b, 205b′ determine that the thickness of the sediment layer 270 has beenreduced to 15 inches.

In one embodiment, the step 740 of the method 700 can be similar to thestep 660 of the method 600. In other words, the mixture 252′ containingthe suspended sediment materials can be transported out of the vessel210 via the at least one pipe(s) 245 a, 245 b, and 245 c for treatment.Alternatively, in step 740, the mixture 252′ can be treated inside thevessel 210 instead of being transported out of the vessel 210 forprocessing (treatment). In one embodiment, treating chemicals can beadded using the adder site 370 (FIG. 2B). As described above, theagitation and treating processes (i.e., steps 730 and 740, respectively)may be stopped when agitation reaches the desired depth.

FIG. 4 illustrates a growth packet 780 for improving the environment,according to embodiments of the present invention. The growth packet 780may comprise an outer wall 790, that may contain plants (e.g., cuttings,roots, tubers, seeds, etc.), nutrients, and soil organisms (not shown)necessary to accelerate plant growth in a green house growing effectthat shelters new growth from the forces of nature. Hereinafter, a tubermay be a stem of a plant having buds, or eyes in the axils of minutescale leaves of the tuber, wherein the buds or eyes may grow into newplants. In some embodiments, the growth packet 780 may be a“self-contained growth packet” when the outer wall 790 of the growthpacket 780 may contain “self-contained growth materials” such as, forexample, sufficient nutrients such as fertilizers, minerals, solidsupport, and/or such as, for example, soil around the roots of theincipient plant for the plant to grow even though it may be placed in anotherwise sterile and barren bed, such as, for example, a barren riverbed, that may be barren because it may be devoid of said self-containedgrowth materials such as the nutrients and solid support needed for theplant to grow. In one embodiment, a diameter of the growth packet 780may be from about one inch to twelve inches.

In one embodiment, the growth packet 780 can be prepackaged as ahigh-energy growing pod and may have any shape such as a round shape tofacilitate easy planting, for example, in the river bed.

The growth packet 780 may be pumped by systems such as the apparatuses100 or 200 or planting systems 1000, or 3000, depicted in FIGS. 6A, 9,and 10, infra, used to pump growth packets 900 and 3110 into soilwhether above or below waterline as in river bottoms for soil erosioncontrol. Plants in the growth packet 780 may be selected that have apositive tropism to light, such that the plants will grow toward thesource of light and will be properly oriented for growing toward thesource of light regardless whether they may be pumped into the soil rootdown or stem down.

In one embodiment, the growth packet 780 may be designed such that itsweight makes it sink into the soil at the bottom 180 of the body ofwater 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A and described supra. In an alternativeembodiment, the growth packet 780 can be designed such that its weightallows it to float. In one embodiment, the growth packet 780 can beequipped with an air-bladder to float as in hydroponics farming.

In one embodiment, the growth packet 780 can be filled with soil andwater organisms necessary to restart damaged ecology systems such asbrown field sites, slag heaps, run off ponds, lagoons, fire sites,harbors, etc.

FIG. 5 illustrates a growth packet 900 for improving the environment,according to embodiments of the present invention. The growth packet 900may comprise plants (e.g., cuttings, roots, tubers, seeds, etc.),self-contained growth materials such as, for example, nutrients, andsoil organisms (not shown) necessary for sustaining and acceleratingself-contained plant growth within an outer wall 910. The growth packet900 may shelter new growth from the forces of nature such as providing agreen house environment, such that heat and carbon dioxide may beretained, while allowing absorption of light to generate the heat andpromote photosynthesis in the plants. Self-contained plant growth may beplant growth from the growth packet 900 which may be nourished,sustained and/or accelerated by the self-contained materials such asnutrients that may be inside the growth packet 900. As a result, thegrowth packet 900 can be used in environments where there may beinsufficient nutrients in the soil to support plant growth.

In one embodiment, the outer wall 910 can be made of porous materialsuch as burlap, such that air and fluids, such as water moisture, can beexchanged between the interior and the exterior of the growth packet900, but the plants, self-contained materials such as nutrients, andsoil organisms may be confined inside the outer wall 910. A porous outerwall 910, such as one made from Burlap material, may enable plant growthto penetrate the material. In one embodiment, reinforcing strings 920can be used to help reinforce the growth packet 900. In one embodiment,the size of the growth packet 900 may be from about one inch to twelveinches in diameter. In one embodiment, the contents inside the growthpacket 900 may be in conformity with local laws, environment-friendly,and in harmony with the surrounding vegetation. In one embodiment, theself-contained materials contained inside the growth packet 900 maycomprise bee plant vitamins, nutrients, pH buffers that buffer the pHfrom about pH=4 to about pH=10, gases such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2),salts of phosphoric acid, pre-grown plants, and combinations thereof,that may be used to revitalize, sustain, and/or accelerate plant growthfrom the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A anddescribed supra. The plant growth from the growth packet 900 may be usedto replenish oxygen in waters in which oxygen has been depleted. Oxygendepletion may result from contamination of a body of water byphosphates. The phosphates may be released through urban andagricultural activities, including sewage treatment plant discharges andrun-off of fertilizer from farmlands and, once in the body of water, thephosphates enable the heavy growth of algae. Algal die-off begins as thecells age, at which time the algae become very concentrated such as inearly summer so that light penetration may be diminished. The dead cellsfall to the bottom and may be decomposed by bacteria, which use aconsiderable amount of oxygen in the process necessary for fish andother life forms in the water.

In one embodiment, the growth packet 900 may comprise masses 930 a and930 b scattered inside the growth packet 900. Alternatively, the masses930 a and 930 b can be outside but tied to the growth packet 900.Although only two masses 930 a and 930 b may be illustratively shownhere, in general, any number of masses like the masses 930 a and 930 bcan be used. The masses 930 a and 930 b can be any objects having theirweights sufficiently large so as to make the growth packet 900 sink toand stay at the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, as depicted in FIG.2A and described supra. Once settled at the bottom 180 of the bottom ofthe body of water 220, plant growth from the growth packet 900 may growupright. In one embodiment, the masses 930 a and 930 b can be made of adegradable material, e.g., a metal that can dissolve in the body ofwater 220 such that the seedlings, seeds may continue to grow in thegrowth packet 900, resulting in protecting the environment.

In one embodiment, the growth packet 900 may comprise floating objects940 a and 940 b scattered inside the growth packet 900. Alternatively,the floating objects 940 a and 940 b can be outside but tied to thegrowth packet 900. Although only two floating objects 940 a and 940 bmay be illustratively shown here, in general, any number of floatingobjects like the floating objects 940 a and 940 b can be used. Thefloating objects 940 a and 940 b have light weights and large volumes soas to make the growth packet 900 float. In one embodiment, the floatingobjects 940 a and 940 b can be made of a degradable material, e.g., ametal that can dissolve in the body of water 220 or a biodegradablefibrous material such as a textile material such as, for example,burlap, or starch, resulting in protecting the environment, as describedsupra. In one embodiment, the floating objects 940 a and 940 b can beair bladders. In one embodiment, multiple growth packets 900 can be tiedtogether to form a floating habitat on the water surface.

FIG. 6A illustrates a planting system 1000 which can be used forplanting the growth packet 900 of FIG. 5 into the sediment layer at thebottom 180 of a body of water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A and describedsupra, in accordance with a method 2000, as depicted in FIG. 7 anddescribed infra. Illustratively, the planting system 1000 may comprise asupporting rig 1005, such as a boat, a growth packet 900, delivery sled1040, a growth packet pump 1010, a growth packet container 1015, agrowth packet gate 1020, and a transport pipe 1025. The growth packet900 planting sled 1040 comprises an aligning pipe 1030 operativelycoupled via an extendable elbow B.sub.3 to a slanted bar 1050, that mayprovide alignment of the aligning pipe 1030 with the guide channels 1034along a longitudinal axis of the sled 1040, along an axis orthogonal tothe longitudinal axis of the sled 1040 and/or in a direction of an arrow1045.

FIG. 6B illustrates a bottom view of the planting sled 1040 of FIG. 6A.The operation of the planting system 1000 of FIG. 6A can be describedinfra with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 9.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method 2000 for operating theapparatus of FIG. 6A, according to embodiments of the present invention.With reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, in the step 2100 of the method2000, the planting sled 1040 may be operably coupled to a front plow1042 and a back plow 1044. In the step 2200 of the method 2000, theentire planting system 1000 can be coupled to the boat 1005 such thatwhen the boat advances, the planting sled 1040 surfs along on the bottom180 of the body of water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A and describedsupra, creating a planting trench 1033. In step 2250, a growth packet900 may be inserted into soil, such as sediment 1070, as depicted inFIG. 6A and described supra, using an alignment sensor 3210 and rampiston 3220. Alternatively, the growth packet 900 may be inserted intosoil at an edge of a body of water or soil on a shoreline adjacent tothe body of water. FIG. 9, infra, depicts the alignment sensor 3210 andthe ram piston 3220 in an exploded view of a front elevation view of theplanting sled 1040. In step 2300, while the planting sled 1040 surfs onthe sediment layer 1070, the back plow 1044 moves sediment materialsinto the trench 1033. In the step 2250, the slanted bar 1050 that may beoperably coupled at B.sub.1 to the rig 1005 and at B.sub.2 to a verticalbar 1055, may provide alignment in an x, y, and z axes of the sled 1040wherein x and y may be the longitudinal and transverse axes in the sameplane of the sled 1040 and z is the axis orthogonal to the x,y plane. Inthe step 2300 of the method 2000, the back plow may be used to move soilsuch as sediment 1070 to fill the trench 1033 and cover the growthpacket 900, thereby disposing the growth packet 900 for growth.

In one embodiment, while the boat 1005 may be advancing in a directionof an arrow 1032, the gate 1020 may be periodically opened. As a result,under the pressure created by the pump 1010, any time the gate 1020opens, one or more growth packets 900 may be pushed into the transportpipe 1025, through the alignment pipe 1030, and into the soil (i.e.,sediment layer 1070) at the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, asdescribed in FIG. 2A and described supra, via the opening 1034. In oneembodiment, the transport pipe 1025 may be flexible so that the relativepositions of the container 1015 and the alignment pipe 1030 can changewhile the planting sled 1040 which can be tightly coupled to thealignment pipe 1030 surfs on the bottom 180 of the body of water 220,such as a river bottom.

In one embodiment, while the planting sled 1040 slides on the sedimentsurface 1065, the plows 1042 and 1044 may be dragged in the sedimentlayer 1070. The front plow 1042 dashes through the sediment materialsand forms a trench 1033 along its path. The back plow 1044 moves afterthe front plow 1042 and moves sediment materials displaced by the frontplow 1042 back into the trench 1033. As a result, whenever a growthpacket 900 exits the alignment pipe 1030 via the opening 1034, thegrowth packet 900 may be planted in the trench 1033 dug by the frontplow 1042. Then, the back plow 1044 fills the trench 1033 with sedimentmaterials burying the growth packet 900 in the trench 1033 in theprocess.

In one embodiment, the front plow 1042 extends deeper into the sedimentlayer 1070 than the back plow 1044. As a result, when the growth packet900 may be dropped at the bottom of the trench 1033, formed by the frontplow 1042, the growth packet 900 may be below the sweep of the back plow1044 making it easier for the back plow 1044 to bury the growth packet900 in the trench 1033.

If it may be desired to move the planting sled 1040 up a slope, thevertical bar 1055 may be drawn up by the hydraulic pump 1060 so as toenable the slanted bar 1050 that may be operably coupled to the boat1005 to rotate around an axis B.sub.1. As a result, the planting sled1040 can slide uphill. The vertical bar 1055 sliding in the sliding pipe1060 which can be operably coupled to the boat 1005 provides the forceto move the planting sled 1040, as in surfing, along the soil of thebottom of the body of water, such as the sediment 1070.

Similarly, if it may be desirable to move the planting sled 1040 down aslope, the slanted bar 1050 may be lowered by the hydraulic pump 1060and the vertical bar 1055 so as to enable the slanted bar 1050 to rotateon the axis B.sub.1. Alternatively, the vertical bar 1055 may be pusheddown by a spring loaded mechanism to exert a downward force on theslanted bar 1050. As a result, the planting sled 1040 can slidedownhill.

In one embodiment, a GPS (Global Positioning System) 1075 can be usedwith the planting system 1000 so as to ensure that the structures 900may be planted at the desired locations at the bottom 180 of the body ofwater 220, such as a river bottom, as depicted in FIG. 2A and describedsupra. In other words, the use of the GPS 1075 helps the operator of theplanting system 1000 keep track of the locations of the river bottomthat have been planted with growth packet 900. As a result,pre-specified areas of the river bottom can be revitalized by implantingthe structures 900 using the planting system 1000.

In one embodiment, a sonar device 1080 can be used with the plantingsystem 1000 to help the operator of the planting system 1000 recognizeobstacles at the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as a riverbottom, as depicted in FIG. 2A and described supra. As a result, theoperator can steer the planting sled 1040 around the obstacles (e.g.,rocks, debris, etc.) at the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, so asto avoid damage to the planting sled 1040.

In the embodiment described above, the slanted bar 1050 may be directlycoupled to the alignment pipe 1030. Alternatively, the slanted bar 1050can be directly coupled to the planting sled 1040.

FIGS. 8 a-c illustrate a top view of the vessel (or vessel) 110 of FIG.1 comprising a top plate 110 e and four side plates 110 a, 110 b, 110 c,and 110 d abutting and being coupled to four curtain plates 810, 820,830, and 840, respectively, according to embodiments of the presentinvention. In one embodiment, each of the four curtain plates 810, 820,830, and 840 may be coupled to a pair of hydraulic rams which in turnmay be coupled to the vessel 110. More specifically, the curtain plate810 may be coupled to rams 810 a and 810 b. The curtain plate 820 may becoupled to rams 820 a and 820 b. The curtain plate 830 may be coupled torams 830 a and 830 b. The curtain plate 840 may be coupled to rams 840 aand 840 b.

FIGS. 8 a-c illustrate a perspective view of the vessel 110 and thecurtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840 of FIGS. 8 a-c, according toembodiments of the present invention. The curtain plate 810 may becoupled to the hydraulic ram 810 a via a single-plane connector 810 eand a piston 810 c. The piston 810 c may be capable of sliding in andout inside the ram 810 a. The single-plane connector 810 e may betightly coupled to one end of the piston 810 c. As a result, thesingle-plane connector 810 e can move only up and down while the piston810 c moves up and down inside the ram 810 a.

Similarly, the curtain plate 810 may be coupled to the hydraulic ram 810b via a single-plane connector 810 f and a piston 810 d. The piston 810d may be capable of sliding in and out inside the ram 810 b. Thesingle-plane connector 810 f may be tightly coupled to one end of thepiston 810 d. As a result, the single-plane connector 810 f can moveonly up and down while the piston 810 d moves up and down inside the ram810 b.

In one embodiment, each of the single-plane connectors 810 e and 810 fonly enables the curtain plate 810 to rotate around it in a planeparallel to the side plate 110 a of the vessel 110. As a result, byadjusting the pistons 810 c and 810 d, the curtain plate 810 can bepulled up, lowered down, and rotated around a plane parallel to the sideplate 110 a of the vessel 110. In one embodiment, the other threecurtain plates 820, 830, and 840 may be coupled to the vessel 110 in asimilar manner.

In one embodiment, the curtain plate 810 may be longer in length thanits abutting side plate 110 a of the vessel 110. Similarly, the curtainplate 820 maybe longer in length than its abutting side plate 110 b(FIG. 8 a-c) of the vessel 110. However, the curtain plates 830 ad 840may be of the same length as their abutting side plates 110 c and 110 d,respectively, of the vessel 110.

FIG. 8 a-c illustrate the use of the four curtain plates 810, 820, 830,and 840 for extending the side plates 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and 110 d,respectively. In one embodiment, the vessel 110 may be lowered into abody of water but its top plate 110 e may be kept above the watersurface 860. Then, the four curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840 may belowered down until they come into contact with the bottom of the body ofwater such that the vessel 110 and the curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and840 form with the bottom of the body of water an enclosed space insidethe vessel 110. In other words, the four curtain plates 810, 820, 830,and 840 serve as extensions of the side plates 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, and110 d of the vessel 110, respectively.

In one embodiment, the vessel 110 may be positioned in the body of watersuch that its top plate 110 e may be either submerged or un-submergedand may be parallel to the water surface 860 of the body of water, andsuch that the slope direction of the bottom 850 of the body of waterunderneath the vessel 110 may be from the curtain plate 830 to thecurtain plate 840. A slope direction of a plane may be defined to be thedirection of movement of a ball when let to roll freely on the planeunder the effect of gravity. Then, the two curtain plates 830 and 840can be lowered down vertically until they come into complete contactwith the bottom 850 of the body of water. Each of the two curtain plates810 and 820 can be lowered vertically and rotated clockwise in a planeparallel to its abutting side plate 110 a or 110 b until it comes intocomplete contact with the bottom 850 of the body of water. As a resultof the curtain plates 810 and 820 being longer in length than the sideplates 110 a and 110 b, respectively, the curtain plates 810 and 820 canrotate to completely contact the bottom without creating an opening onthe side of the vessel 110, as shown in FIG. 8 a-c.

In one embodiment, each of the rams 810 a and 810 b can rotate in aplane parallel to the side plate 110 a around a point tightly affixed tothe vessel 110. As a result, the curtain plate 810 can be movedhorizontally by simultaneously rotating both the rams 810 a and 810 b.This adds further flexibility in movement of the curtain plate 810.

In one embodiment, similarly, each of the rams 820 a and 820 b canrotate in a plane parallel to the side plate 110 b around a pointtightly affixed to the vessel 110. As a result, the curtain plate 820can be moved horizontally by simultaneously rotating both the rams 820 aand 820 b. This adds further flexibility in movement of the curtainplate 820.

In the embodiments described above, the connectors 830 a and 830 bassociated with the curtain plate 830 and the connectors 840 a and 840 bassociated with the curtain plate 840 may be of single-plane type.Alternatively, these connectors 830 a, 830 b, 840 a, and 840 b can beomitted. In that case, the curtain plates 830 can be soldered to thepistons 830 a and 830 b, and the curtain plates 840 can be soldered tothe pistons 840 a and 840 b.

In one embodiment, the curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840 andassociated components (connectors, rams, and pistons) can be made of astainless material. Their sizes may be sufficient to withstand theexpected maximum forces exerted upon them.

FIG. 9 depicts an exploded side elevation view of the planting sled1040, as depicted in FIG. 6A, supra, and described in associated text,illustrating an alignment sensor 3210 and a ram piston 3220, wherein thealignment sensor 3210 may be operatively coupled to the ram piston 3220.The alignment sensor 3210 may be used for aligning the ram piston 3220with the at least one growth packet channel 1034, wherein the alignmentsensor 3210 may be located on a tip of the ram piston 3220 and the rampiston 3220 may be manually or computer controlled. The ram piston 3220may slide within the aligning pipe 1030, wherein the aligning pipe 1030may be positioned manually, by an operator, or in an automated fashion,by the computer, anywhere along the xyz coordinates of the planting sled1040. The alignment sensor 3210 may be used for aligning the ram piston3220 with the growth packet 900 channel 1034. A purpose of the alignedram piston 3220 may be to physically and directly drive the growthpacket 900 through the channel 1034, inserting the growth packet 900into the trench 1033 that may have been made by movement of the forwardplow 1042 in the direction of the arrow 1032 in the soil of the bottom1065 of the body of water 1037, such as sediment 1070, as depicted inFIG. 6A, and described herein. Alternatively, the ram piston 3220 may beused to physically and directly insert the growth packet 900 into soilon a shore alongside the body of water 1037 such as a river or into soilat an edge of the body of water 1037 and the shore. The alignment sensor3210 and the ram piston 3220 may be aligned with the at least one growthpacket guide channel 1034, in accordance with the step 2250 of themethod 2000, as depicted in FIG. 7 and described supra.

FIG. 10 depicts a Blanket Roll Planting System (BR Planting System)3000, comprising: a rig or boat 3095, a blanket roll 3030, a control3010, a supporting system 3050, and a ram piston 3020. The control 3010maybe a computer, wherein the computer maybe operably connected to analigning sensor 3015 of the ram piston 3020, such as the alignmentsensor 3210, as depicted in FIG. 9 and described supra, for aligning thetrajectory of the ram piston 3020 in the direction of the arrow 3160 todrive the stakes 3080 to designated locations 3070 in the blanket roll3030 and 3140 in the soil 3130. Alternatively, the control 3010 may be amanual control, wherein the alignment sensor 3015, such as the alignmentsensor 3210, as depicted in FIG. 9 and described supra, may provide avisual image of the alignment of the ram piston 3020 with the blanketroll 3030 to an operator. The blanket roll 3030 may include at least onegrowth packet 3110 incorporated in a material such as the burlap orother biologically degradable material used to house the growth packets900, as depicted in FIG. 5, and described supra. The blanket roll 3030may be any appropriate dimensions, such as from about one to onethousand feet long and from about six inches to about ten feet wide. Thegrowth packets 3110 may be any appropriate dimensions, such as fromabout one to about twelve inches in diameter. The growth packet 3110 maycontain plants (e.g., cuttings, roots, tubers, seeds, etc.), nutrients,and soil organisms (not shown) for accelerating growth in a green housegrowing effect that shelters new growth from the forces of nature.Hereinafter, a tuber may be a stem of a plant having buds, or eyes inthe axils of minute scale leaves of the tuber, wherein the buds or eyesmay grow into new plants. In some embodiments, the growth packet 3110may be a “self-contained growth packet” with an outer wall that maycontain self-contained materials such as sufficient nutrients such asfertilizers, minerals, solid support, such as soil around the roots ofthe incipient plant for the plant to grow even though it may be placedin an otherwise sterile and barren bed, such as, for example, a barrenriver bed, that may be barren because it may be devoid of said nutrientsand solid support needed to sustain or accelerate plant growth. In likemanner as described for the growth packets 780 and 900, the blanket roll3030 may provide nourishment such as nitrate and phosphate containingfertilizer for the growth packets 3110 to receive nourishment after theymay be inserted into soil.

The stake and growth packet delivering system 3050 may be secured at alocation 3093 to the rig or boat 3095 via connecting tether 3092. Theconnecting tether 3092 may be flexible material such as rope or plasticor rigid, such as metal ties. The stake and growth packet deliveringsystem 3050 may comprise a stake supply 3090, a stake delivery pipe3100, wherein stakes 3090 may move in a direction of an arrow 3150 intoa trajectory of a ram piston 3020, designated by a direction of an arrow3160, and a blanket roll guide system 3060, wherein the blanket rollguide system 3060 guides the laying of the blanket roll 3030, such thatthe blanket roll 3030 may pass through the trajectory of the ram piston3020, in the direction of the arrow 3160. The stakes 3090 and 3080 maybe made of wood, plastic, composites, such as of plastic and rubber, ormetal, and may be oblong with pointed ends to facilitate entry into thesoil. Alternatively, the stakes may be any appropriate solid geometricshape for penetrating the blanket roll 3030 at a location 3070 andsecuring the blanket roll to the soil at a location 3140. The roll guidesystem 3060 may be a wheel that may include a groove on which theblanket roll slides, or any appropriate mechanism for guiding theblanket roll 3030.

The ram piston 3020 may be hydraulic or spring powered and may includean alignment sensor 3015 and an alignment pipe 3040 for aligning the rampiston 3020, such that the trajectory of the ram piston 3020, designatedby the direction of the arrow 3160, may drive the stakes 3080 todesignated locations 3070 in the blanket roll 3030 and 3140 in the soil3130. In the method 4100 of the method for planting 4000, depicted inFIG. 11 and described infra, the control 3010 may receive feedback fromthe alignment sensor 3015 to align the ram piston 3020 trajectory todrive the stakes 3080 to designated locations 3070 in the blanket roll3030 and 3140 in the soil 3130. Alternatively, the control 3010 may be amanual control, wherein the alignment sensor 3015, such as the alignmentsensor 3210, as depicted in FIG. 9 and described supra, may provide avisual image of the alignment of the ram piston 3020 such that anoperator may align the ram piston 3020 trajectory to drive the stakes3080 to designated locations 3070 in the blanket roll 3030 and 3140 inthe soil 3130. Supporting rods 3170 may be operably coupled to thealigning pipe 3040 and roll guide system 3060, resulting in maintaininga constant trajectory of the ram piston 3020 in the direction of thearrow 3160, even if a rate of feeding the blanket roll 3030 increases,such that resistance to feeding of the blanket roll 3030 may create aforce orthogonal to the direction of the arrow 3160.

FIG. 11 depicts a method 4000 for planting using the a Blanket RollPlanting System (BR Planting System) 3000, as depicted in FIG. 10,supra, and described herein. In the step 4100 of the method 4000, astake and growth packet delivery system 3050 may be provided, whereinthe stake and growth packet delivery system 3050 may include a stakesupply 3090, a stake delivery pipe 3100, a ram piston 3020, having atrajectory in the direction of the arrow 3160, a blanket roll guidesystem 3060, wherein the blanket roll guide system 3060 guides thelaying of the blanket roll 3030 onto the bottom 3130 of the body ofwater 3120, such as soil or sediment, such that the blanket roll 3030passes through the trajectory of the ram piston 3020, in the directionof the arrow 3160, such that the stakes 3080 may be driven into theblanket roll 3030 and bottom of the body of water 3130 by the ram piston3020. In the step 4200 of the method 4000, a blanket roll 3030 may beprovided to the stake and growth packet delivery system 3050, whereinthe blanket roll 3030 may include at least one growth packet 3110. Inthe step 4200, the blanket roll 3030 may be transported to the plantingsite pre-loaded with the at least one growth packet 3110 or it may betransported to the planting site as an empty casing and loaded with theat least one growth packet 3110 as needed. The blanket roll 3030 of theBR Planting System 3000 may be unrolled from a support system 3050 andstaked down into position in the bottom 3130 of the body of water 3120,such as the sediment, in deep or shallow water. Alternatively, theblanket roll 3030 may be staked down on a river bank, a shore of a lakeor river, or at an edge of a body of water 3120. The support system 3050can be mounted on barges or boats for laying the blanket roll 3030 intothe soil bottom 3130 of a body of water 3120, such as the sediment, indeep or shallow water. Alternatively, the support system 3050 may bemounted to trucks, crawlers, excavators etc., or boats for laying theblanket roll 3030 into the bottom 3130 of a body of water 3120 such assoil of a river bank, a shore of a lake or river, or at an edge of thebody of water 3120.

FIG. 12 depicts a longitudinal cross section of the apparatuses 100 or200, illustrating an exploded view of the attachment 248″ depicted inFIG. 2A, supra, wherein the attachment 248″ may be a fluted filter. Theattachment 248″, that may be a fluted filter, may comprise a bore 260, afluted surface 265 having at least one peak(s) 263 and at least onevalley(s) 259, and at least one channel(s) 267, wherein the at least onechannel(s) 267 may extend from the fluted surface 265 in the at leastone valley(s) 259 into the bore 260 of the attachment 248″. Theattachment 248″, that may be a fluted filter, may be operatively coupledto the at least one pipe(s) 248 at an opening 248′, as depicted in FIG.2A, supra. Hereinafter, “operatively coupled” means the bore 260 of theattachment 248″ may be contiguous with the opening 248′ of the at leastone pipe(s) 248, such that material, such as contaminated water andsuspended contaminated sediment in the mixture 252′ may pass from theinterior 252 of the vessel 210 through at least one channel(s) 267 ofthe attachment 248″ into the at least one pipe(s) 248 in a direction ofthe arrow 177, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and described supra.Alternatively, the attachment 248″ that may be a fluted filter, may beoperatively coupled to the at least one pipe(s) 245 a, 245 b, or 245 cof the apparatus 200, as depicted in FIG. 2A, or to the at least onepipes 145 a′, 145 b′ or 145 c′ of the apparatus 100, as depicted inFIG. 1. The attachment 248″, such as the fluted filter, may be made ofplastic, rubber, composites, such as plastic and rubber, metal, whereinthe metal may be copper, brass, stainless or carbon steel. The at leastone peak(s) 263 of the fluted surface 265 may be a point or be bluntshaped.

FIG. 13 depicts a transverse cross-sectional view of the attachment 248″that may be a fluted filter. In FIG. 13, a length in a direction of anarrow 269 between the adjacent peaks 263 of the fluted surface 265 maybe from about 1 in. to about 3 inches. In one embodiment, the at leastone channel(s) 267 may have a diameter from about 0.002 mm to about0.006 mm and a length in the direction of the arrow 177 between adjacentpoints 261 of the fluted surface may be from about 0.002 mm to about0.006 mm. In another embodiment, the at least one channel(s) 267 mayhave a diameter from about 0.006 mm to about 0.02 mm and a length in thedirection of the arrow 177 between adjacent points 261 of the flutedsurface may be from about 0.006 mm to about 0.02 mm. In anotherembodiment, the at least one channel(s) 267 may have a diameter fromabout 0.02 mm to about 0.063 mm and a length in the direction of thearrow 177 between adjacent points 261 of the fluted surface may be fromabout 0.02 mm to about 0.063 mm. The fluted surface 265 between the atleast one points 263 and 261 may be a smooth linear surface, oralternatively the fluted surface 265 may be rough or non-uniform.Adjacent points 261 may align or be coincident with opposite pointsalong a diameter of the at least one channel(s) 267. A purpose of theattachment 248″, that may be the fluted filter, may be to remove orfilter out solids having a larger diameter than the length between theadjacent peaks 263 of the fluted surface 265 of the attachment 248″. Inone embodiment, the attachment 248″, that may be the fluted filter, mayremove or filter out solid material in the mixture 252′, therebypreventing solids such as rocks or other insoluble solid debris, thatmay have been carried along with the contaminated material such ascontaminated sediment in the mixture 252′ in the interior 252 of thevessel 210 from entering the at least one channel(s) 267 and the atleast one pipe 248. It has been found that at least one channel(s) 267may become occluded or clogged with solids having a greater diameterthan the at least one channel(s) 267, and that using the valleys 259 toscreen such solids, such that the length between opposite coplanarpoints, in the plane of the arrow 177 lessens as the solids approach theat least one channel(s) 267.

FIG. 14 depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus200, illustrating an exploded view of the attachment 248″ when theattachment 248″ may be a coarse filter. The attachment 248″, such as thecoarse filter, as depicted in FIG. 14, comprises a filter element 258,wherein the filter element 258 may include a screen 259 and at least oneorifice 256 in the screen 259, and wherein the at least one orifice 256may have a diameter from about ⅛ in. to about 1 in. The at least oneorifice 256 may be round, square, rectangular or any appropriatepolygon. The at least one orifice 256 of the apparatus 248″ that may bea coarse filter may be an array of holes having a diameter from about ⅛to about 1 in. The filter element 258 may be conical shaped as in FIG.14, or alternatively, the filter element 258 may be spherical, cubic,pyramidal, or any solid geometric shape of a polygon. The filter element258 may be any appropriate solid material such as sheet metal, plastic,wherein the sheet metal may be copper, zinc, stainless steel or carbonsteel, or any sheet material that may be non-porous to water, sedimentor solid objects such as rocks or pebbles in the body of water 220.

In FIG. 14, the attachment 248″, that may be a coarse filter, may beoperatively coupled to the at least one pipe(s) 248 at an opening 248′,as depicted in FIG. 2A, supra. Hereinafter, “operatively coupled” meansthe bore 258 of the attachment 248″ may be contiguous with the opening248′ of the at least one pipe(s) 248, such that material, such ascontaminated water and suspended contaminated sediment in the mixture252′ may pass from the interior 252 of the vessel 210 through the atleast one orifice(s) 256 of the apparatus 248″ into the at least onepipe(s) 248 in a direction of the arrow 177, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and2B, and described supra.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, and FIGS. 12-14, it has been found thatmaterials or solids in the body of water 220, as depicted in FIGS. 2Aand 2B, supra, such as suspended sediment in the mixture 252′ mayocclude or clog the at least one channel(s) 267 or the at least oneorifice(s) 256 of the attachment 248″ when the attachment 248″ of theapparatus 200 is a fluted filter or coarse filter. Referring to FIG. 13,it has been found that the occlusions or clogs may be removed from theat least one channel(s) 267 of the attachment 248″, when the attachment248″ may be a coarse filter, by pumping, e.g., with pump 380, themixture 252′ such that the mixture 252′ in the “open or closed” pipingsystem 188 may be forced in a direction of the arrow 254, as depicted inFIG. 13, through the at least one channel(s) 267 of the attachment 248″.Referring to FIG. 14, it has been found that the occlusions or clogs maybe removed from the at least one orifice(s) 256 of the attachment 248″,when the attachment 248″ may be a fluted filter, by pumping, e.g., withpump 380, the mixture 252′ such that mixture 252′ in the “open orclosed” piping system 188 may be forced in a direction of the arrow 251,as depicted in FIG. 14, through the at least one orifice(s) 256 of theattachment 248″. Alternatively, an ultrasonic generator may beoperatively coupled to the attachment 248″ to provide bursts ofultrasonic vibration to remove occlusions or clogs from the at least onechannel(s) 267 or the at least one orifice(s) 256, of the attachment248″, when the attachment 248″ may be a fluted filter or coarse filter.

FIG. 15 depicts an overall flowchart of a method 800 for operating theapparatuses 100 and 200 robotically, wherein the valves, agitators,viewing equipment, map coordinate locating equipment such as GPS andSonar equipment may be remotely computer controlled such as by remotelyplacing the valves in open or closed positions in the piping systems 45and 188 for the apparatuses 100 and 200. The terms “enter and entering”are defined to mean typing through a keyboard (or moving or clicking apointing device) linked to a computer 400, as depicted in FIG. 16, infraand described herein, adapted to display the information entered on ascreen. The method 800 comprises: a the step 810, wherein the operatorenters map coordinates and a depth of removal for a location wherecontaminated material has been designated for removal; a step 820,controlling the apparatuses 100 and 200, including valves, agitators,viewing equipment, map coordinate locating equipment such as GPS andSonar equipment of the apparatuses 100 and 200 with the computer 400,wherein the computer 400 calculates operating parameters for thecontrolled agitators, viewing equipment, map coordinate locatingequipment; and a step 830, wherein the apparatuses 100 and 200 removethe contaminated materials.

Generally, the method 800 described herein with respect to removingcontaminated materials illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 10 and describedsupra, may be practiced with a general-purpose computer 400 and themethod may be coded as a set of instructions on removable or hard mediafor use by the general-purpose computer 400. FIG. 16 is a schematicblock diagram of a general-purpose computer 400 for practicing thepresent invention. In FIG. 16, computer system 400 has at least onemicroprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) 405. CPU 405 isinterconnected via a system bus 410 to a random access memory (RAM) 415,a read-only memory (ROM) 420, an input/output (I/O) adapter 425 for aconnecting a removable data and/or program storage device 430 and a massdata and/or program storage device 435, a user interface adapter 440 forconnecting a keyboard 445 and a mouse 450, a port adapter 455 forconnecting a data port 460 and a display adapter 465 for connecting adisplay device 470.

ROM 420 contains the basic operating system for computer system 400. Theoperating system may alternatively reside in RAM 415 or elsewhere as isknown in the art. Examples of removable data and/or program storagedevice 430 include magnetic media such as floppy drives and tape drivesand optical media such as CD ROM drives. Examples of mass data and/orprogram storage device 435 include hard disk drives and non-volatilememory such as flash memory. In addition to keyboard 445 and mouse 450,other user input devices such as trackballs, writing tablets, pressurepads, microphones, light pens and position-sensing screen displays maybe connected to user interface 440. Examples of display devices includecathode-ray tubes. (CRT) and liquid crystal displays (LCD).

A computer program with an appropriate application interface may becreated by one skilled in the art and stored on a system or a dataand/or program storage device to simplify the practicing of thisinvention. In operation, information for or the computer program createdto run the present invention is loaded on the appropriate removable dataand/or program storage device 430, fed through data port 460 or typed inusing keyboard 445. In a first example, the output of the system bus 410may control the apparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) andmethods 600 and 700 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, resulting incontaining and isolating PCB-contaminated sediments while they may bebeing handled with the rate of suspension and turbidity of the sedimentsbeing controlled. In a second example, the output of the system bus 410may control the apparatuses 100 and 200 enabling sampling, viewing,sonar detection, monitoring, separating, testing, treating, injecting,removing or replacing contaminated materials from a contained sitewithin a body of water.

The present invention can provide a structure e.g., the apparatuses 100and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and methods 600 and 700 of FIGS. 3A and3B, respectively, for containing and isolating the PCB-contaminatedsediments while they may be handled and the rate of suspension andturbidity of the sediments may be controlled. The apparatuses 100 and200 enabling sampling, viewing, sonar detection, monitoring, separating,testing, treating, injecting, removing or replacing contaminatedmaterials from a contained site within a body of water. The open facedvessels 110 and 210 form a sealable/resealable container with the bottommaterials, then uses “agitators” for suspending contaminated materialsuch as silt and sludge within the container and outlets through which amixture of the materials and fluids may be withdrawn from the vessel forseparation and monitoring for chemicals and/or treatment. Most PCBsreside in the top 6 inches of the sediment layer at the bottom of theriver. However, at some hot spots, PCBs may be present at a depth asdeep as 25 inches. The “agitators” will be variable speed impellers,whips and nozzles for directing a stream of water or air at variablepressures. The container, agitators, impellers, whips and nozzles may beof mixed materials, for example: carbon steel, aluminum, stainlesssteel, rubber, plastic or composites.

A global positioning device (GPD) can be used to determine thepositioning of the vessels 110 and 210. Also, the open or closed looppiping system 188 may include a “forward and reverse” pump 380 forremoving the contaminated material such as silt and sludge materialsfrom attachment 248″ and from piping system 45 of apparatus 100, asdepicted in FIG. 1, and piping system 188 of apparatus 200, as depictedin FIG. 2A, supra, while the releasable seal 183 prevents contaminatedmaterial from entering the vessels 110 or 210. Monitoring the samplesite 310 a, as depicted in FIG. 2B, may include testing for chemicalsand elements known or unknown. The treatments can include usingadditives, reducers, catalysts, microbes, stabilizers, adhesives,charged particles, gases or other elements known or unknown. Oncetreated, “cleaned, separated materials” may be returned via the open orclosed piping system 188, as depicted in FIG. 2A or the closed looppiping system 45, as depicted in FIG. 1. The apparatuses 100 and 200enables removal of contaminated materials “in place” with continuousmonitoring and minimal exposure to the surroundings.

The apparatuses 100 and 200 have the following advantages over theconventional dredging method that may use the “open mouthed” bucket.First, the apparatuses 100 and 200 may have a multi-use purpose, suchas, for example, sampling, viewing, sonar detection, monitoring,separating, testing, treating, injecting, removing or replacingcontaminated material from a contained site within the riverbed. Second,the “open or closed loop” piping systems 188 within the containmentvessel area may be used to stimulate and control the rate of suspensionof materials (turbidity) and the depth of involvement into the riverbedmaterials as well. The agitators may be variable speed impellers 125 aand 125 b, whip 127 or nozzles 135 a, 135 b, 135 c, 135 d and may beadapted for rising up and down, while advancing into the contaminatedmaterial such as sediment 270, e.g., silt and sludge media, to acontrolled depth. Third, the apparatuses 100 and 200 may be a multiple“closed looped” or “open loop” piping systems, 45 and 188 that recyclethe enclosed fluids out of the vessels 110 and 210 and back into thevessels 110 and 210, enabling elected treatments or filtrationprocesses. Fourth, testing and treatments to the contained sediment 78and 270, e.g., silt and sludge media, can be done in place in thevessels 110 and 210 in lieu of removing it from the vessels 110 and 210.Fifth, by reversing the process the voids left from removals can befilled with a selected amount of cleaned or new fill materials such asplant life and organisms, etc.

Direct benefits to using the apparatuses 100 and 200 may be seen withrespect to working below the mud line with quiet, night-and-day,year-round operations and minimal effects to the river, navigation,public water supplies, improving the public's health, improving theecology of the river, the fish and wildlife, the food chain, improvedagricultural applications, improved transportation and recreation. Theremay be several objectives achieved using the apparatuses 100 and 200 ofthe present invention: (1) reduced cancer risks and non-cancer healthhazards to people who eat fish, (2) lowered risks to fish and wildlife,(3) diminished PCB levels in sediments in river water above waterquality standards, (4) reduced quantity (mass) of PCBs in sediments thatmay be consumed by fish and wildlife, and (5) stopped long-term movementof PCBs down the river.

One success of the apparatuses of the present invention, e.g., theapparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and methods 600 and 700of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, can be measured by the minimization ofthe amount of materials (large rocks, stones, etc.) that may becollected and/or processed for transport to a disposal site. A secondsuccess of the apparatuses of the present invention, e.g., theapparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and methods 600 and 700of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, may be enabling targeting ofcontaminated materials for removal, so that essentially 100% by weightof the contaminated materials may be removed.

The environment benefits may be the controlled removal of contaminatedmaterials such as river sediment to prevent downstream migration of thecontaminated materials that may result if the contaminated materialswere not removed. The present invention may provide economic benefits inthe form of returning a body of water such as the Hudson River to safeuse again.

The energy benefits of the apparatuses of the present invention, e.g.,the apparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and methods 600 and700 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, may be expected to cut the energyconsumption for PCB removal and treatment by a significant amount byshortening the length of the treatment process. The environmentalprotection may be offered through the novel contained dredging process(i.e., inside the vessel 210) by controlling turbidity and re-suspensionreleased downstream. The economic benefits may be derived from ashortened, safer, more efficient process enabling the economy to regainuse of bodies of water such as the Hudson River sooner. The marketingpotential to recover contaminated sediments in any body of waterthroughout New York State, the U.S., and all of the developing countriesof the world may be limitless.

The present invention can also provide the means to regenerate plantlife and install plant life into a body of water such as a river inefficient and economical ways.

According to embodiments of the present invention, plant life may beselected so that it may be able to co-habit together and repopulate thevacant site. Research will be conducted for the nutrients and packetsthat each habitat may require. The Green Plant Energy Aid System (i.e.,the growth packet 900 of FIG. 5), hereafter known as GREEN PEAS, may bea biodegradable packet, filled with plants (cuttings, roots, tubers,seeds, etc.), nutrients, soil, and organisms necessary to accelerateplant growth in a greenhouse growing effect that shelters new growthfrom the forces of nature over a controlled period of time, aiding inaccelerated plant growth. The GREEN PEAS may be prepackaged high-energygrowing pods, round in shape, to facilitate easy placement. The shapeenables the GREEN PEAS to be pumped via special piping systems into soilwhether above or below the waterline as in river bottoms for soilerosion control. It also enables the PEAS not to have a top or a bottom,enabling growth to occur at 360 degrees, thus finding “top” on its own.The GREEN PEAS should also be weighted to sink or air bladdered to floatas in hydroponic farming. The GREEN PEAS will be filled with soil andwater organisms necessary to restart damaged eco systems such as brownfield sites, slag heaps, run off ponds, lagoons, fire sites and harbors.

The benefits of this project may be: the river, improving the public'shealth, improving the ecology of the body of water, such as providing ahealthier environment for the fish and wildlife, eliminating PCB's andother toxic chemicals from the food chain, improving the purity ofpublic water supplies, removing waste from the body of water that mayresult from agricultural applications, such as the use of fertilizers,and improving conditions for recreation on the body of water such as forswimming. The financial benefits may be boundless for both commercialand public applications.

This present invention may be superior because the direct plantingprocess replants the riverbed with GREEN PEAS. Replacing a controlledamount of material will be far more efficient and cost effective thancurrent procedures used today. The energy and economic benefits may bebased upon the savings associated with the efficient way of replantingthe river bottom voided of habitat. The direct planting process toreplant the river bed and replace a controlled amount of clean material(12″ as required by the USEPA) will save a measurable amount of new soilmaterials over the current methods of transferring or clam shelling thesoil material into a flowing river which carries the materials with thecurrent before they settle out unevenly on the bottoms. Theenvironmental benefits to the fish, waterfowl, amphibious and aquaticfauna may be measured by how long it takes to plant the habitatvegetation and replace the ecological functions.

With the GREEN PEAS process, the nutrient rich power pods will jumpstartgrowing the plants prior to planting in the riverbed. Already able toprovide a root area support system, the GREEN PEAS may be placed underthe riverbed soils by the mechanical process. This may be unlike currentpractices that use drop in place techniques in which plant life could bewashed away with river currents.

As a summary of the benefits of the present invention, the presentinvention preserves the quality of life around the site of cleaningoperation. The operation of the apparatuses 100 and 200 makes negligiblenoise, creates no pollution, and generates no smell. Such benefits willbe greatly appreciated and welcomed by the public.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications andchanges will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications andchanges as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a vessel including a rimmed opening,wherein when the rimmed opening is facing a bottom of a body of water,wherein the vessel has been configured to contain and suspend materialsinside the vessel; and a first pipe coupled to the vessel and configuredto transport the contained and suspended materials from an interior ofthe vessel to an exterior of the vessel, wherein the first pipe includesan attachment selected from the group consisting of a filter and a drillhead or auger.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a secondpipe coupled to the vessel and configured to return the suspendedmaterials to the interior of the vessel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the second pipe is further configured to transport a growthpacket containing materials for plant growth into the interior of thevessel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises anagitating device being configured to suspend the suspended materials andbeing selected from the group consisting of a paddle, an auger, a sprayhead, a whip, a prop, and a fluid distribution device.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising an observing device coupled to thevessel, the observing device being configured to observe the interior ofthe vessel.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filteringsystem coupled to the first pipe, the filtering system being configuredto filter the materials transferred through the first pipe.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pump coupled to the vessel,the pump being configured to reduce the pressure of the interior of thevessel so as to releasably seal the vessel onto the bottom of the bodyof water.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sample sitecoupled to the vessel, the sample site being configured to receivesamples of the materials from the first pipe for testing.
 9. A methodfor transporting materials from a bottom of a body of water forprocessing, the method comprising: providing a vessel including a rimmedopening, wherein the rimmed opening is facing a bottom of a body ofwater so as to isolate a contained area of the vessel from the outsideof the vessel, wherein the vessel has been configured to contain andsuspend materials inside the vessel; positioning the vessel such thatthe opening is facing the bottom of the body of water and is in directphysical contact with the bottom of the body of water; containing andsuspending the materials inside the vessel; providing a first pipecoupled to the vessel, wherein the first pipe includes an attachmentselected from the group consisting of a filter and a drill head orauger; and transporting the contained and suspended materials from aninterior of the vessel to an exterior of the vessel via the first pipe.10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: providing a second pipecoupled to the vessel; removing contaminants from the contained andsuspended materials; and returning via the second pipe the contained andsuspended materials from which the contaminants have been removed to theinterior of the vessel.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprisingthe step of transporting via the second pipe a growth packet containingmaterials for plant growth into the interior of the vessel.
 12. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the containing and suspending step furthercomprises providing an agitating device coupled to the vessel andselected from the group consisting of a paddle, an auger, a spray head,a whip, a prop, and a fluid distribution device.
 13. The method of claim9, further comprising: providing an observing device coupled to thevessel.
 14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: providing afilter coupled to the first pipe.
 15. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: providing a pump coupled to the vessel; and reducing, withthe pump, the pressure of the interior of the vessel so as to releasablyseal the vessel onto the bottom of the body of water.
 16. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: providing a sample site coupled to thefirst pipe; and transporting to the sample site samples of the materialsin the first pipe for testing.
 17. An apparatus, comprising: a vesselincluding an opening, wherein when the opening is facing a bottom of abody of water and the vessel is in direct physical contact with thebottom of the body of water, wherein the vessel has been configured tocontain and suspend materials inside the vessel; a first pipe coupled tothe vessel and configured to transport the contained and suspendedmaterials from an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the vessel,wherein the first pipe includes an attachment selected from the groupconsisting of a filter and a drill head or auger; and a second pipecoupled to the vessel and configured to return the suspended materialsto the interior of the vessel, wherein the second pipe is furtherconfigured to transport a growth packet containing materials for plantgrowth into the interior of the vessel.
 18. A method for transportingmaterials from a bottom of a body of water for processing, the methodcomprising: providing a vessel including an opening; positioning thevessel such that the opening is facing the bottom of the body of waterand is in direct physical contact with the bottom of the body of water;containing and suspending the materials inside the vessel; providing anopen loop piping system coupled to the vessel; transporting thecontained and suspended materials from an interior of the vessel to anexterior of the vessel via the open loop piping system; providing asecond pipe coupled to the vessel; and returning via the second pipe thesuspended materials to the interior of the vessel, and transporting viathe second pipe a growth packet containing materials for plant growthinto the interior of the vessel.